Input device and image processing apparatus

ABSTRACT

In an input device: a position detection portion includes a main surface that faces up, and detects a position where an external force is applied on the main surface; a cover member is separated upward from a specific portion of the main surface, covers the specific portion, and exposes an operation portion of the main surface excluding the specific portion; a base portion is provided to be in contact with the cover member, above a separate portion that is a portion of the specific portion and is separated from the operation portion; and a flexible portion extends from the base portion toward the operation portion, and is in contact with an adjacent portion that is a portion of the specific portion and is located between the operation portion and the separate portion, the flexible portion being separated downward from the cover member and flexible with respect to the base portion.

INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE

This application is based upon and claims the benefit of priority fromthe corresponding Japanese Patent Application No. 2018-162311 filed onAug. 31, 2018, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein byreference.

BACKGROUND

The present disclosure relates to an input device including a positiondetection portion for detecting a touch position, and relates to animage processing apparatus including the input device.

An input device is provided in an image processing apparatus or thelike. In the input device, a position detection portion that is what iscalled a touch sensor, is disposed on a display panel. The positiondetection portion and the display panel are disposed on the side of arear surface of an exterior member. The exterior member has arectangular opening. The exterior member serves as a cover membercovering a specific portion of the position detection portion, namely anouter peripheral portion of the position detection portion. A portion ofthe position detection portion excluding the specific portion is exposedthrough the opening, as an operation portion on which an operator canperform a touch operation by his/her finger or the like. The positiondetection portion detects a position on the operation portion when it istouched by the operator, namely, a position on the operation portion towhich an external force has been applied.

The cover member abuts on the specific portion at a position that issufficiently away from the operation portion so that an unnecessaryexternal force is not applied to the operation portion. That is, aportion of the cover member close to the operation portion is not incontact with the specific portion, and is separated upward from thespecific portion via a predetermined gap.

SUMMARY

An input device according to an aspect of the present disclosureincludes a position detection portion, a cover member, a base portion,and a flexible portion. The position detection portion includes a mainsurface that faces up. The position detection portion detects a positionwhere an external force is applied on the main surface. The cover memberis separated upward from a specific portion of the main surface, coversthe specific portion, and exposes an operation portion of the mainsurface, the operation portion excluding the specific portion. The baseportion is provided above a separate portion that is a portion of thespecific portion and is separated from the operation portion, the baseportion being in contact with the cover member. The flexible portionextends from the base portion toward the operation portion, and is incontact with an adjacent portion that is a portion of the specificportion and is located between the operation portion and the separateportion, the flexible portion being separated downward from the covermember and flexible with respect to the base portion.

An image processing apparatus according to another aspect of the presentdisclosure includes the input device and an image processing portion.The image processing portion processes image data based on the positiondetected by the position detection portion.

This Summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts in asimplified form that are further described below in the DetailedDescription with reference where appropriate to the accompanyingdrawings. This Summary is not intended to identify key features oressential features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended tobe used to limit the scope of the claimed subject matter. Furthermore,the claimed subject matter is not limited to implementations that solveany or all disadvantages noted in any part of this disclosure.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective diagram schematically showing an outerappearance of an image processing apparatus according to an embodimentof the present disclosure.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the image processing apparatus shown inFIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged and broken schematic diagram of anoperation/display portion shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a schematic cross-sectional diagram of the operation/displayportion taken along a one-dot chain line IV-IV shown in FIG. 3 andviewed in a first direction D1.

FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram showing a print condition setting screendisplayed on the operation/display portion by an image processingportion shown in FIG. 2.

FIG. 6 is a schematic cross-sectional diagram of the operation/displayportion taken along a one-dot chain line VI-VI shown in FIG. 3 andviewed in the first direction D1.

FIG. 7 is a schematic cross-sectional diagram of the operation/displayportion taken along a one-dot chain line VII-VII shown in FIG. 3 andviewed in a second direction D2.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The following describes an embodiment of the present disclosure withreference to the accompanying drawings for the understanding of thepresent disclosure. It should be noted that the following embodiment isan example of a specific embodiment of the present disclosure and shouldnot limit the technical scope of the present disclosure.

Referring to FIG. 1, the arrow X indicates a depth direction of an imageprocessing apparatus 100, namely a direction directed from the frontside to the rear side of the image processing apparatus 100. The arrow Yindicates a width direction, namely, a left-right direction, of theimage processing apparatus 100. The arrow Z indicates a heightdirection, namely, a direction directed from the bottom side to the topside of the image processing apparatus 100. Hereinafter, the depthdirection, the width direction, and the height direction arerespectively referred to as a depth direction X, a width direction Y,and a height direction Z.

Referring to FIG. 1, the image processing apparatus 100 is an imageforming apparatus such as a printer, a copier, or a multifunctionperipheral. The multifunction peripheral includes a plurality offunctions such as a print function, a copy function, a facsimilefunction, and a scan function. FIG. 1 shows that the image processingapparatus 100 is installed on an installment surface F1 that is parallelto both the depth direction X and the left-right direction Y. The imageprocessing apparatus 100 executes a print process. In the print process,the image processing apparatus 100 feeds sheets one by one from a supplyportion 4 that is a supply cassette or the like. The image processingapparatus 100 generates prints M1 by printing an image on each of thesheets. During the print process, the image processing apparatus 100discharges the prints M1 to a discharge portion 5 that is a dischargetray or the like.

As shown in FIG. 2, the image processing apparatus 100 further includesa control portion 1, an operation/display portion 2, an image formingportion 3, and an image reading device 6.

The control portion 1 includes a processor and various types of memorydevices. Specifically, the processor is a CPU, a microcomputer or thelike. In addition, the various types of memory devices include a ROM, aRAM, and a nonvolatile memory. The processor executes, by using the RAM,programs that are preliminarily stored in the ROM or the like. Thisallows the control portion 1 to control the image processing apparatus100 comprehensively.

It is noted that the control portion 1 may include an electronic circuitsuch as an ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuit) or a DSP(Digital Signal Processor) in place of the CPU, the microcomputer or thelike.

The control portion 1 includes an image processing portion 11.Specifically, the control portion 1 functions as the image processingportion 11 by executing the programs. The image reading device 6 is ascanner that generates image data by optically reading a document sheet.The image processing portion 11 receives image data transmitted from theimage reading device 6. The image data is, for example, bitmap data andis an object of image processing that is described below.

The image processing portion 11 displays various types of screens on theoperation/display portion 2.

The operation/display portion 2 is an example of an input device of thepresent disclosure. As shown in FIG. 1, the operation/display portion 2is provided on a front upper portion of a housing 7 of the imageprocessing apparatus 100. As shown in FIG. 3, the operation/displayportion 2 includes a display portion 21, a position detection portion22, a cover member 23, and a seal member 24.

The display portion 21 is a display device such as a liquid crystalpanel. The liquid crystal panel includes a deflection filter, a glasssubstrate, a liquid crystal, and a backlight. It is noted that thedisplay device is not limited to the liquid crystal panel, but may be,for example, an organic EL display.

The display portion 21 includes a main surface 21A that faces up. Themain surface 21A has a rectangular shape.

The various types of screens are displayed on a display portion 21C ofthe main surface 21A. Specifically, the display portion 21C is providedinside an outer periphery of the main surface 21A and has a rectangularshape. A portion of the main surface 21A excluding the display portion21C is an outer peripheral portion 21B. In the display portion 21, forexample, a drive circuit for driving the liquid crystal may be providedbelow the outer peripheral portion 21B.

The display portion 21 is provided in the operation/display portion 2such that the main surface 21A faces up. Specifically, from theviewpoint of visibility of the various types of screens, the mainsurface 21A faces front diagonally upward with respect to theinstallment surface F1 (see FIG. 1). In FIG. 1, the front diagonallyupward direction is indicated by the arrow Z1. However, not limited tothis, the main surface 21A may face in the height direction Z, namelyvertically upward with respect to the installment surface F1. That is,the upward direction includes the front diagonally upward direction andthe vertically upward direction with respect to the installment surfaceF1.

The position detection portion 22 is a touch sensor. As shown in FIG. 3,the position detection portion 22 is provided in the operation/displayportion 2 to be overlaid on the main surface 21A of the display portion21. When the position detection portion 22 is a capacitance type touchpad, the position detection portion 22 includes two transparent glassplates, a lot of pairs of transparent electrodes, and power linescorresponding to the pairs of transparent electrodes. It is noted thatthe position detection portion 22 is not limited to the capacitancetype, but may be a resistance film type, an ultrasonic type, a surfaceacoustic wave type, or an infrared type.

The position detection portion 22 includes a main surface 22A that facesup. The main surface 22A is an example of a main surface of the presentdisclosure. The main surface 22A has a rectangular shape. Hereinafter, adirection in which a first side FS1 of the main surface 21A extends isreferred to as a first direction D1. In addition, a direction in which asecond side SS2 of the main surface 21A that is perpendicular to thefirst side FS1 extends is referred to as a second direction D2. Adirection perpendicular to the first direction D1 and the seconddirection D2 is referred to as a third direction D3. It is noted thatthe third direction D3 is the direction of a normal line to the mainsurface 21A. The second direction D2, as with the width direction Y,represents a left-right direction of the image processing apparatus 100.The first direction D1 is inclined with respect to the depth directionX, and thus indicates an approximate frontward direction and anapproximate rearward direction of the image processing apparatus 100.The third direction D3 is inclined with respect to the height directionZ, and thus indicates an approximate upward direction and an approximatedownward direction of the image processing apparatus 100. It is notedthat in FIG. 3, two sides of the first direction D1 are indicated as“front” and “depth”. In addition, two sides of the third direction D3are indicated as “up” and “down”.

The main surface 22A is parallel to the main surface 21A, and as withthe display portion 21, faces up.

The main surface 22A includes an outer peripheral edge portion 22B and adetection portion 22C. The detection portion 22C is provided inside anouter periphery of the main surface 22A and has a rectangular shape. Inthe position detection portion 22, the lot of pairs of transparentelectrodes are disposed in alignment in the first direction D1 and inthe second direction D2 below the detection portion 22C. The outerperipheral edge portion 22B is a portion of the main surface 22Aexcluding the detection portion 22C. The outer peripheral edge portion22B is provided to extend in four directions surrounding the detectionportion 22C. In the position detection portion 22, the power lines andthe like are provided in a lower portion of the outer peripheral edgeportion 22B.

More specifically, the position detection portion 22 is disposed on thedisplay portion 21 such that in a plan view viewed in the thirddirection D3, the detection portion 22C is overlaid on the displayportion 21C.

The position detection portion 22 is configured to detect a position towhich an external force is applied, on the detection portion 22C of themain surface 22A. The external force is applied when an operator of theimage processing apparatus 100 performs a touch operation by his/herfinger or the like. In other words, the position detection portion 22 isconfigured to detect a touch position touched by the operator on thedetection portion 22C. The position detection portion 22 transmits aposition signal to the image processing portion 11 so that the imageprocessing portion 11 side can identify the touch position.Specifically, the position signal is composed of a plurality of electricsignals which are output from the lot of pairs of transparent electrodesand whose voltage values change depending on whether or not an externalforce is applied (namely, a touch operation is performed).

As shown in FIG. 1, the cover member 23 is an exterior member thatcovers the position detection portion 22 at an upper position of theoperation/display portion 2. As shown in FIG. 4, as is the case with thedisplay portion 21, the position detection portion 22 is disposed on theside of a rear surface 23A of the cover member 23. It is noted that forthe sake of convenience of explanation and illustration, the seal member24 is not shown in FIG. 4. An opening 23B is provided at a predeterminedposition in the cover member 23. As shown in FIG. 3, the opening 23B hasa rectangular shape in a plan view viewed in the third direction D3. Thedetection portion 22C of the position detection portion 22 is exposedthrough the opening 23B. This allows the operator to touch the detectionportion 22C. Hereinafter, a portion of the main surface 22A that isexposed through the opening 23B and can be touched by the operator isreferred to as an operation portion 22D (see FIG. 4). The operationportion 22D is a portion excluding a portion of the detection portion22C (specifically, an outer peripheral portion of the detection portion22C) in the detection portion 22C. It is noted that the operationportion 22D may be composed of the whole portion of the detectionportion 22C. In this case, the operation portion 22D is identical to thedetection portion 22C. As described above, the cover member 23 isconfigured to expose the operation portion 22D that excludes a specificportion 22E in the main surface 22A.

The cover member 23 covers the specific portion 22E. Specifically, asshown in FIG. 3, the cover member 23 includes a peripheral portion 23Cthat surrounds the four sides (namely, two opposite sides in the firstdirection D1 and two opposite sides in the second direction D2) of theopening 23B. As shown in FIG. 4, the peripheral portion 23C covers thespecific portion 22E in the main surface 22A of the position detectionportion 22. The specific portion 22E is a portion of the main surface22A that is covered by the cover member 23, and excludes the operationportion 22D. Specifically, specific portion 22E includes: the outerperipheral edge portion 22B of the main surface 22A; and a portion ofthe detection portion 22C (specifically, an outer peripheral portion ofthe detection portion 22C) of the position detection portion 22. It isnoted that in a case where the operation portion 22D is identical to thedetection portion 22C, the specific portion 22E includes only the outerperipheral edge portion 22B of the main surface 22A.

The cover member 23 includes an abutting portion 23D on the side of therear surface 23A, the abutting portion 23D being a rib or the like. Theabutting portion 23D projects downward from the rear surface 23A, andabuts on a predetermined position in the specific portion 22E of theposition detection portion 22. This allows the position detectionportion 22 and the display portion 21 to be positioned by the covermember 23 so that they are not positionally shifted in the thirddirection D3 inside the operation/display portion 2.

The various types of screens include a setting screen 41A for settingprint conditions, as shown in FIG. 5. The setting screen 41A includes aplurality of touch keys 41B, 41C. Specifically, the operator touches thetouch key 41B by his/her finger or the like to set a sheet size, whereinthe sheet size is an example of the print condition. In addition, theoperator touches the touch key 41C to set a magnification of image data,wherein the magnification is another example of the print condition. Thetouch keys 41B, 41C are disposed at predetermined different positions inthe setting screen 41A. That is, in the display portion 21C, thepositions at which the touch keys 41B, 41C are disposed, arepredetermined. Accordingly, the positions of the touch keys 41B, 41Cwith respect to the operation portion 22D are predetermined, too.

The operator specifies print conditions for the print process to theimage processing apparatus 100 by performing touch operations on thesetting screen 41A. In response to the touch operations, the positiondetection portion 22 outputs the position signal to the image processingportion 11 (see FIG. 2). During the print process, the image processingportion 11 processes image data received from the image reading device 6(see FIG. 2), based on a position detected by the position detectionportion 22. Specifically, the image processing portion 11 identifies theprint condition based on the position signal transmitted from theposition detection portion 22. The image processing portion 11 executesvarious types of image processing on the image data based on the printcondition. The various types of image processing include, for example,rasterizing. The image processing portion 11 output the image datasubjected to the image processing, to the image forming portion 3 (seeFIG. 2).

Referring to FIG. 2, during the print process, the image forming portion3 forms an image based on the image data transmitted from the imageprocessing portion 11, by an electrophotographic method or an inkjetmethod. The supply portion 4 feeds a sheet to the image forming portion3 (see the arrow A1). The image forming portion 3 generates a print M1by forming an image on the sheet. The image forming portion 3 dischargesthe print M1 to the discharge portion 5 (see the arrow A2). It is notedthat when the electrophotographic method is adopted, the image formingportion 3 includes a photoconductor drum, a charger, an exposure device,a developing device, a transfer device, and a fixing device.

See FIG. 4. In a case where an unnecessary external force is applied tothe specific portion 22E at a position close to the operation portion22D, there is a possibility that the position detection portion 22 mayerroneously output a position signal based on the unnecessary externalforce. For this reason, the abutting portion 23D is configured to abuton the specific portion 22E at a position sufficiently away from theoperation portion 22D. In addition, the cover member 23 is separatedupward from the specific portion 22E so that the unnecessary externalforce is not applied to the specific portion 22E. Specifically, aportion of the rear surface 23A of the cover member 23 that is closer tothe operation portion 22D than the abutting portion 23D, is separatedupward from the specific portion 22E with a gap G1 therebetween. Theinterval of the gap G1 is predetermined, and is several millimeters atthe maximum.

It is assumed here that the operation/display portion 2 does not includethe seal member 24. Under such assumption, when the operator performs atouch operation on the operation portion 22D strongly, the positiondetection portion 22 may bend, and the interval of the gap G1 may bewidened. In this case, if a foreign substance is on the operationportion 22D of the position detection portion 22, the foreign substancemay enter the widened gap G1. When the operator stops touching theoperation portion, the bent position detection portion 22 returns to itsoriginal state. This allows the foreign substance that is in the gap G1to apply an unnecessary force to the specific portion 22E, and theposition detection portion 22 may erroneously detect the touch position.

It is noted that the gap G1 may be widened for reasons other than thetouch operation. For example, the gap G1 may be widened due todeformation of the cover member 23 (namely, the exterior member). Inthis case, too, the foreign substance is likely to enter the gap G1.Factors for deforming the cover member 23 include, for example, anexternal force applied to the cover member 23, and shrinkage andswelling of the cover member 23 due to change of the ambienttemperature.

On the other hand, according to the operation/display portion 2 (namely,the input device) and the image processing apparatus 100, theoperation/display portion 2 includes the seal member 24 as shown in FIG.3. This restricts an unnecessary external force from being applied tothe position detection portion 22, and restricts a foreign substancefrom entering the gap G1 between the cover member 23 and the positiondetection portion 22.

As shown in FIG. 3, the seal member 24 is provided between the mainsurface 22A (more specifically, the specific portion 22E (see FIG. 4))of the position detection portion 22 and the rear surface 23A of thecover member 23. The seal member 24 is a frame made of an elasticmaterial or the like. As a result, an opening 24A is formed in the sealmember 24. In a plan view viewed in the third direction D3, the opening24A has the same rectangular shape as the opening 23B of the covermember 23 and the operation portion 22D (see FIG. 4).

More specifically, as shown in FIG. 3, the seal member 24 includes fourseal portions 25: a first seal portion 25K, a second seal portion 25L, athird seal portion 25M, and a fourth seal portion 25N.

The first seal portion 25K is on the left side of the opening 24A of theseal member 24, and extends in the first direction D1 along the leftside of the opening 24A. The size of the first seal portion 25K in thesecond direction D2 is equal to or smaller than a size D4 (see FIG. 4).The size D4 is the shortest distance between an end portion of theabutting portion 23D on the operation portion 22D side and the operationportion 22D along the main surface 22A. The size of the first sealportion 25K and the second seal portion 25L in the third direction D3 isequal to or smaller than an interval D5 (see FIG. 4).

The second seal portion 25L is on the front side of the opening 24A, andextends in the second direction D2 along the front side of the opening24A. The size of the second seal portion 25L in the first direction D1is equal to or smaller than the size D4.

As shown in FIG. 3, a first center plane CP1 is an imaginary plane thatpasses through middle points of sides of the opening 24A that face eachother in the first direction D1, and is parallel to the third directionD3. In addition, a second center plane CP2 is an imaginary plane thatpasses through middle points of sides of the opening 24A that face eachother in the second direction D2, and is parallel to the third directionD3.

The third seal portion 25M and the first seal portion 25K are symmetricin the second direction D2 with respect to the first center plane CP1.In addition, the fourth seal portion 25N and the second seal portion 25Lare symmetric in the first direction D1 with respect to the secondcenter plane CP2. As a result, detailed description of the third sealportion 25M and the fourth seal portion 25N is omitted.

As shown in FIG. 6 and FIG. 7, each of the seal portions 25 includes abase portion 251 and a flexible portion 252. It is noted that FIG. 6shows the base portion 251 and the flexible portion 252 of the firstseal portion 25K. FIG. 7 shows the base portion 251 and the flexibleportion 252 of the second seal portion 25L.

Each base portion 251 is provided above a separate portion 22F. Theseparate portion 22F is a portion of the specific portion 22E, and isseparated from the operation portion 22D. The separate portion 22F isseparated from the operation portion 22D by a predetermined distance D6.

Specifically, the base portion 251 of the first seal portion 25K isprovided above the separate portion 22F as shown in FIG. 6.Specifically, as shown in FIG. 6, the separate portion 22F is a portionof the specific portion 22E, and is separated downward from the covermember 23 and is separated from the opening 23B toward one side of thesecond direction D2. The one side of the second direction D2 is left.The separate portion 22F is separated from the operation portion 22D bythe distance D6 toward the one side of the second direction D2.

The base portion 251 of the second seal portion 25L is provided abovethe separate portion 22F as shown in FIG. 7. Specifically, as shown inFIG. 7, the separate portion 22F is a portion of the specific portion22E, and is separated downward from the cover member 23 and is separatedfrom the opening 23B toward one side of the first direction D1. The oneside of the first direction D1 is the front. The separate portion 22F isseparated from the operation portion 22D by the distance D6 toward theone side of the first direction D1.

As shown in FIG. 6 and FIG. 7, an upper surface 251A of each baseportion 251 is in contact with the rear surface 23A of the cover member23. Specifically, each base portion 251 is in contact with a portion ofthe rear surface 23A that is separated upward from a correspondingseparate portion 22F. Specifically, the upper surface 251A of each baseportion 251 is adhered to the rear surface 23A of the cover member 23 byan adhesive or the like. This makes it difficult for a gap to begenerated between the upper surface 251A and the rear surface 23A.Specifically, even if the cover member 23 is deformed due to a change inthe ambient temperature, each base portion 251 that is made of anelastic material can deform according to the deformation of the rearsurface 23A. As a result, each base portion 251 prevents a gap frombeing generated. This prevents a foreign substance from entering betweenthe rear surface 23A and the base portion 251.

A lower surface 251B of each base portion 251 is not in contact with theseparate portion 22F, and is separated upward from the separate portion22F (namely, the main surface 22A) (see FIG. 6, FIG. 7). Each lowersurface 251B is separated from the separate portion 22F by a distance ofone millimeter or more and two millimeters or less. With thisconfiguration, even if the cover member 23 is deformed, the base portion251 is restricted from abutting on the separate portion 22F, therebymaking it possible to restrict the cover member 23 from applying anexternal force to the position detection portion 22. It is noted thatthe lower surface 251B may abut on the separate portion 22F.

More specifically, as shown in the frame F2 of FIG. 6 and FIG. 7, eachbase portion 251 includes a first adhesive member 261 and a first resinmember 262.

The first adhesive member 261 is a double-sided tape or the like, andhas a thickness of one millimeter or less. Each first adhesive member261 includes an upper surface 261A and a lower surface 261B. The uppersurface 261A is an example of a first surface of the present disclosure.The lower surface 261B is an example of a second surface of the presentdisclosure. The upper surface 261A and the lower surface 261B areseparated from each other in the third direction D3 (namely, the up-downdirection), and both are adhesive. It is noted that the upper surface261A is the upper surface 251A of the base portion 251. The uppersurface 261A adheres to the rear surface 23A of the cover member 23. Inaddition, the lower surface 261B of each first adhesive member 261adheres to an upper surface 262A of a corresponding first resin member262.

Each first resin member 262 is made of resin. The resin is polyethyleneterephthalate or the like. Specifically, each first resin member 262 isformed from a film made of a resin (hereinafter, the film is referred toas a resin film). Specifically, the resin film has a thickness of onemillimeter or less. Each first resin member 262 includes the uppersurface 262A and a lower surface 262B. The upper surface 262A and thelower surface 262B are separated from each other in the third directionD3. The lower surface 262B of each first resin member 262 is the lowersurface 251B of the base portion 251, and is provided above the separateportion 22F.

As shown in FIG. 6 and FIG. 7, each flexible portion 252 is providedabove an adjacent portion 22G. The adjacent portion 22G is a portion ofthe specific portion 22E located between the operation portion 22D andthe separate portion 22F. Specifically, the adjacent portion 22G is aportion of the specific portion 22E within a range of the distance D6from the operation portion 22D, and is adjacent to both the operationportion 22D and the separate portion 22F.

Specifically, the flexible portion 252 of the first seal portion 25K isprovided above the adjacent portion 22G shown in FIG. 6. Specifically,referring to FIG. 6, the adjacent portion 22G is adjacent to theoperation portion 22D on a side directed toward the one side of thesecond direction D2, and the size thereof in the second direction D2corresponds to the distance D6. It is noted that the one side of thesecond direction D2 is left.

The flexible portion 252 of the second seal portion 25L is providedabove the adjacent portion 22G shown in FIG. 7. Specifically, referringto FIG. 7, the adjacent portion 22G is adjacent to the operation portion22D on a side directed toward the one side of the first direction D1,and the size thereof in the first direction D1 corresponds to thedistance D6. It is noted that the one side of the first direction D1 isthe front.

Each flexible portion 252 is connected with a corresponding base portion251. Each flexible portion 252 extends from the corresponding baseportion 251 toward the operation portion 22D, passes through the gap G1,and reaches an upper position on an imaginary boundary line BL1 betweenthe operation portion 22D and the adjacent portion 22G.

A lower surface 252A of each flexible portion 252 is in contact with acorresponding adjacent portion 22G. Specifically, a portion close to thebase portion 251, of the lower surface 252A of each flexible portion252, is in contact with the adjacent portion 22G. The lower surface 252Aof each flexible portion 252 is gradually separated from the adjacentportion 22G as it approaches the operation portion 22D. It is noted thata portion of each lower surface 252A excluding the portion close to thebase portion 251 may be in contact with the adjacent portion 22G.

As described above, each seal member 24 includes the base portion 251and the flexible portion 252. A portion of each seal member 24 on thebase portion 251 side abuts on the rear surface 23A of the cover member23. A portion of each seal member 24 on the side of the flexible portion252 connected with the base portion 251, abuts on the specific portion22E of the position detection portion 22. In addition, the flexibleportion 252 extends from the base portion 251 up to an upper position onthe boundary line BL1 in the gap G1. In other words, each seal member 24blocks the gap G1. With such a configuration, when a foreign substanceis present on the operation portion 22D, each seal member 24, namely,each combination of the base portion 251 and the flexible portion 252restricts the foreign substance from entering the gap G1.

It is noted that the lower surface 252A of each flexible portion 252 maybe adhered to the adjacent portion 22G. Specifically, the portion ofeach lower surface 252A that abuts on the adjacent portion 22G, may beadhered to the adjacent portion 22G by an adhesive or a double-sidedtape. This makes it difficult for a gap to be generated between eachlower surface 252A and the adjacent portion 22G. Specifically, when theoperator performs a touch operation on a portion of the operationportion 22D close to the adjacent portion 22G strongly, the main surface22A may be deformed. Each flexible portion 252 is flexible with respectto a corresponding base portion 251, and is deformable according to thedeformation of the main surface 22A. As a result, it is possible toprevent the whole flexible portion 252 from being separated from themain surface 22A. This makes it possible to prevent a foreign substancefrom entering a base portion 251 side over the flexible portion 252 inthe gap G1.

In addition, as shown in FIG. 6 and FIG. 7, each flexible portion 252 isseparated downward from the cover member 23, and is flexible withrespect to a corresponding base portion 251.

Specifically, an upper surface 252B of each flexible portion 252 is notin contact with the rear surface 23A of the cover member 23, and isseparated downward from the cover member 23 (see FIG. 6, FIG. 7). Eachupper surface 252B is separated from the rear surface 23A by a distancecorresponding to the thickness of a corresponding first adhesive member261. The space between each upper surface 252B and the rear surface 23Ais a bending allowance for each flexible portion 252. In addition, eachflexible portion 252 is flexible with respect to the corresponding baseportion 251. As a result, even if a foreign substance enters between aportion of the lower surface 252A close to the operation portion 22D andthe adjacent portion 22G, the flexible portion 252 bends with respect tothe corresponding base portion 251, and is raised upward by the foreignsubstance. This makes it possible to restrict the flexible portion 252from applying an external force to the position detection portion 22.

More specifically, as shown in the frame F2 of FIG. 6 and FIG. 7, eachflexible portion 252 includes a second resin member 263, a secondadhesive member 264, and a third resin member 265. The second resinmember 263 and the third resin member 265 are each made of resin.

Specifically, as is the case with the first resin member 262, eachsecond resin member 263 is formed from the resin film. The second resinmember 263, among the second resin member 263, the second adhesivemember 264, and the third resin member 265, is provided at the top, andis separated downward from the rear surface 23A of the cover member 23.The second resin member 263 is integrally provided with the first resinmember 262 of the base portion 251 side, extends from the first resinmember 262 toward the operation portion 22D, passes through the gap G1,and reaches an upper position on the boundary line BL1.

Each second resin member 263 includes an upper surface 263A and a lowersurface 263B that are separated from each other in the third directionD3. The upper surface 263A is the upper surface 252B of the flexibleportion 252.

Each second adhesive member 264 is present between a correspondingsecond resin member 263 and a corresponding third resin member 265.

As is the case with the first adhesive member 261, each second adhesivemember 264 is a double-sided tape or the like, and is adhered to thecorresponding second resin member 263 and the corresponding third resinmember 265. Specifically, each second adhesive member 264 includes anupper surface 264A and a lower surface 264B. The upper surface 264A isan example of a third surface of the present disclosure. The lowersurface 264B is an example of a fourth surface of the presentdisclosure. The upper surface 264A and the lower surface 264B areseparated from each other in the third direction D3, and both areadhesive. The upper surface 264A adheres to the lower surface 263B ofthe corresponding second resin member 263. The lower surface 264Badheres to an upper surface 265A of the corresponding third resin member265.

As is the case with the second resin member 263, each third resin member265 is formed from the resin film. Each third resin member 265 includesthe upper surface 265A and a lower surface 265B that are separated fromeach other in the third direction D3. The lower surface 265B of eachthird resin member 265 is the lower surface 252A of the flexible portion252, and is in contact with the adjacent portion 22G.

In the seal member 24, the flexible portion 252 is connected with acorresponding base portion 251 by only a sheet of resin film. This makesit easy for the flexible portion 252 to bend with respect to thecorresponding base portion 251.

In the present embodiment, the operation/display portion 2 is includedin the image processing apparatus 100. However, not limited to thisconfiguration, the operation/display portion 2, namely the input device,may be provided in an electronic device other than the image processingapparatus 100. The electronic device includes what is called a tabletterminal.

In the present embodiment, the input device is the operation/displayportion 2 that includes the display portion 21. However, not limited tothis, the input device may not include the display portion 21. Anexample of this type of input device is a touch pad that is included inwhat is called a notebook personal computer.

In the present embodiment, the seal member 24 is formed by adhering aplurality of resin films with each other by a double-sided tape.However, not limited to this, it is possible to form the seal member 24by integrally molding the resin material. That is, in the seal member24, the base portion 251 and the flexible portion 252 may be formedintegrally, the plurality of resin films not being used.

It is to be understood that the embodiments herein are illustrative andnot restrictive, since the scope of the disclosure is defined by theappended claims rather than by the description preceding them, and allchanges that fall within metes and bounds of the claims, or equivalenceof such metes and bounds thereof are therefore intended to be embracedby the claims.

The invention claimed is:
 1. An input device comprising: a positiondetection portion including a main surface that faces up, the positiondetection portion configured to detect a position where an externalforce is applied on the main surface, the main surface including anouter peripheral edge portion and a detection portion provided insidethe outer peripheral edge portion, wherein when the position where theexternal force is applied is in the detection portion, the positiondetection portion can detect the position; a cover member separatedupward from a specific portion of the main surface, the cover membercovering the specific portion and exposing an operation portion of themain surface, the operation portion excluding the specific portion, theoperation portion being a portion excluding an outer peripheral portionof the detection portion, the specific portion including the outerperipheral edge portion and the outer peripheral portion; a base portionseparated upward from a separate portion that is a portion of thespecific portion and is separated from the operation portion toward theouter peripheral edge portion, the base portion being in contact withthe cover member and not in contact with the separate portion; and aflexible portion extending from the base portion toward the operationportion and being in contact with an adjacent portion that is a portionof the specific portion and is located between the operation portion andthe separate portion, the flexible portion being separated downward fromthe cover member and flexible with respect to the base portion, whereinonly an end of the flexible portion that is on a side of the baseportion is in contact with a part of the adjacent portion that is on aside of the base portion, and another part of the flexible portion thatis exclusive of the end is not in contact with the adjacent portion, andthe other part of the flexible portion that is on a side of theoperation portion is gradually separated upward from the adjacentportion as the other part of the flexible portion approaches theoperation portion.
 2. The input device according to claim 1, wherein thebase portion is adhered to the cover member.
 3. The input deviceaccording to claim 1, wherein the end of the flexible portion that is incontact with the adjacent portion is adhered to the adjacent portion. 4.The input device according to claim 1, wherein the base portionincludes: a first adhesive member including a first surface and a secondsurface which are both adhesive, the first surface being adhered to thecover member; and a first resin member provided above the separateportion and made of resin, the first resin member being adhered to thesecond surface, and the flexible member includes: a second resin memberseparated downward from the cover member and made of resin, the secondresin member being provided integrally with the first resin member andextending from the first resin member toward the operation portion; asecond adhesive member including a third surface and a fourth surfacewhich are separated from each other in an up-down direction and are bothadhesive, the third surface being adhered to the second resin member;and a third resin member made of resin, the third resin member being incontact with the adjacent portion and adhered to the fourth surface,wherein only an end of the third resin member that is on the side of thebase portion is in contact with the part of the adjacent portion that ison the side of the base portion, and another part of the third resinmember that is exclusive of the end is not in contact with the adjacentportion, and the other part of the third resin member that is on a sideof the operation portion is gradually separated upward from the adjacentportion as the other part of the third resin member approaches theoperation portion.
 5. An image processing apparatus comprising: theinput device according to claim 1; and an image processing portionconfigured to process image data based on the position detected by theposition detection portion.